Sydney Hobart favourites in Big Boat Challenge warm-up, Palm Beach nee Wild Oats missing
The Sydney Hobart supermaxi Palm Beach XI is gussied up with a new moniker and paint job but the former Wild Oats still couldn’t come out to play in the Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday
The Sydney Hobart’s most winning yacht was on a cradle on a Sydney shed being souped up for a comeback to the famous race while her supermaxi rivals were flexing their muscle in one of the most erratic but spectacular races on Sydney Harbour on Tuesday.
Palm Beach XI, winner of nine Sydney Hobarts as Wild Oats, has an extensive shore team working on her as she prepares for her return to the water after major modifications instigated by skipper Mark Richards who raced the 100-footer to her nine wins under the Oatley family ownership.
The yacht, to be launched on Wednesday, is expected to hit the water later this week for the first time since her revamping but will go into the Sydney Hobart without a race under her belt.
That’s in contrast to the other five 100-footers in the race - defending champion LawConnect, former winner MasterLock Comanche, Wild Thing, Scallywag and the cruiser racer Maritimo.
With the exception of Maritimo these yachts have been putting themselves through their paces in the Australian maxi challenge, proving invaluable crew and sail training.
And on a picture perfect, if slightly hazy but definitely crazy Tuesday, there good wind died out unexpectedly and provoked an enthralling battle for victory, these ocean marauders turned a spectacular Sydney Harbour into their playground in the annual race used to raise money for the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea Trust) .
Set up in the wake of the deadly 1998 Sydney Hobart to assist the needs of families of those lost at sea, SOLAS provide assistance to search and rescue organisations and foster research and training to improve procedures and equipment for use at sea.
While yesterday’s race ran for less than two hours and ws decided by less than two minutets, it had a bit of everything, from high speed drag racing after a tactical start to running into a windless patch of water which saw the race restart midway.
In the end it was Master Lock Comanche, skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo, which managed to play their nautical game of snakes and ladders the best and claim the Big Boat line honours from LawConnect and Scallywag.
It has added a shot of confidence to Master Lock Comanche’s campaign for line honours this year after their mainsail ripped the first night at sea in 2024, forcing them out of the race.
“It’s certainly something we think about,’’ said Allen of the mishap while leading the fleet south on a stormy opening night last year.
Palm Beach X1 will hit the Sydney Hobart start line boasting a transformed underbelly which includes a deeper keel and bulb to increase righting moment and reduce drag, upwind dagger boards to reduce drag and leeway, C-foils for lift and to minimise drag while reaching and sailing downwind.
It is a major overhaul but the 100-footer will go into the Sydney Hobart with only limited testing of her new technology.
The 80th Sydney Hobart will be contested by a fleet of and 130 yachts and starts at 1pm on Boxing Day.
Christian Beck and his team on LawConnect are chasing their third successive line honours win.
The 70-footer Celestial. skippered by Sam Haynes, leads a list of top-notch overall handicap contenders in 2025.
